RNA Sequencing and Spatial Transcriptomics in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (Review)

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genomics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Understanding spinal cord function requires identifying all cell types and their roles.
• Single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing are key technologies for this.
• Spatial transcriptomics adds crucial spatial information for precise localization and analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advances in identifying and studying cell characteristics in traumatized spinal cords.
• To explore the potential of transcriptomic profiling for understanding spinal cord injury (SCI) mechanisms.
• To highlight the role of these technologies in discovering therapeutic targets for neural repair.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)
• Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq)
• Spatial transcriptomics

Main Results:

• Transcriptomic atlases provide insights into neural connection rearrangement and sensorimotor function restoration.
• Identification of novel functions for nervous tissue cells.
• Revealed molecular diversity in neurons, enabling comparison of susceptibility and regenerative potential.

Conclusions:

• Transcriptomic profiling is essential for understanding cell-specific responses to spinal cord injury.
• Comparing human cell populations with experimental models is crucial for determining injury causes.
• These technologies offer powerful resources for advancing SCI research and developing targeted therapies.